Seeking Talented Palliative Care Physician to Join the Section of Geriatrics Rehabilitation Extended Care Service in Spokane, WA

The Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, Washington is actively recruiting a Board Certified Hospice & Palliative Medicine Physician position (BE considered).  to join our growing Hospice and Palliative Medicine Section of Geriatrics Rehabilitation and Extended Care (GREC) Service.  Selected candidates will be asked to apply for a faculty appointment  one of our three local medical schools. The candidate will be involved in the clinical teaching of medical students and residents. The selected candidate will report to the Community Living Center Medical Director and work 0.4 FTE in CLC hospice and 0.6 FTE in specialty palliative care consultation with a well seasoned team that includes another fellowship trained physician, a chaplain and a social worker. . The Mann-Grandstaff VAMC – located in Spokane, Washington – is part of VA Northwest (VISN20), encompassing a main Medical Center, and three community-based outpatient clinics throughout Washington and Northern Idaho and a Community Living Center located adjacent to the VA Medical Center in Spokane, WA. The VAMC operates 20 hospital beds and 20 rehabilitation-oriented nursing home beds 10 of which are dedicated to hospice care.

      You are invited to consider joining the team at the Spokane VA Medical Center, providing care for the world’s best patients while providing training and mentorship for residents and medical students.  You should be board certified/eligible in Hospice Palliative Medicine and a US citizen with current US licensure (any state) with no history of revocations or suspension.  Permanent Residents may be considered if no US citizen is selected. 

Work Schedule: Full-time, with either a standard TOD or compressed TOD.  Night and weekend hours are not currently scheduled, however, full-time physicians are employed on a 24/7 basis

• Must be U.S. Citizen – Non-US Citizens may be considered
• Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in the U.S.
• Board Certification in Hospice Palliative Medicine preferred, but Board Eligibility may also be considered.

Community Information

Spokane is a dynamic city located in an exceptionally beautiful part of the country with easy access to a wide variety of outdoor activities. In addition, Spokane offers a wide variety of housing options from condominiums in the city to acreages, or waterfront property at much lower costs than other Western cities. Multiple downhill and Nordic skiing facilities are available within easy driving distance from the city. There are multiple hiking and biking trails both within the city in the surrounding area. A wide variety of water activities are available on the lakes and rivers that surround the Spokane region. The city has in vibrant theater and arts community as well as diverse culinary options.  Spokane has a growing number of tasting rooms for the large number of wineries in the region, many of which are only a short drive away from downtown. 

Benefits and Features

Expected Salary range will be competitive for the academic rank and include a full benefits and features package to support high quality professional practice and favorable work-life-family balance. The VA provides employees with a robust benefits package and fosters an environment where more time is spent on medical practice and less on business tasks. VA does this by offering: Paid Time Off in the form of 26 Days paid annual leave, 13 Days paid sick leave per year, 10 Federal holidays with pay, and 5-Day paid absence to attend approved CME courses. Insurance to include Health-Dental-Vision care insurance programs to choose from with premiums partially paid by VA, Flexible Spending Accounts, Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government, and Long-term care insurance available as an option. Federal Retirement Plan thru the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) - A three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits; 2) FERS-FRAE basic benefits (pension); and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan, with up to five percent government matching contributions.  

To Explore This Physician Opportunity Further

Please forward copy of your Curriculum Vitae to Henry "Hank" Laguatan, VA National Healthcare Recruitment Consultant @ Henry.Laguatan@va.gov or call (206) 459-7927.

Our home campus is located along the Spokane River gorge, with our rural clinics located from the east slopes of the Cascade Mountains in Washington State to the shadows of the Cabinet Wilderness in Montana.

The VAMC operates 46 hospital beds (medical, surgical, ICU, mental health) and 38 Community Living Center Beds to include rehab, skilled nursing, and hospice. A mobile clinic, outfitted with two exam rooms, provides selected primary care services to Veterans living in remote areas outside the metropolitan Spokane area. Spokane is responsible for coordinating access to the full health care benefits package for enrolled Veterans. To this end, the VAMC coordinates referrals to the VA Puget Sound Health Care System and VAMC Portland for tertiary care, as well as utilizing community health care resources. Sharing agreements exist with the 92nd Medical Group at Fairchild Air Force Base, Indian Health Services for Native Americans, and the Idaho and Washington State Departments of Veterans Affairs for the care of state home residents in Lewiston, ID, and Spokane. The medical center also provides administrative support to the Veterans Outreach Center in Spokane Valley.

Spokane VA Medical Center was recently approved as an Intermediate Surgical Complexity facility. Our ICU is linked to Minneapolis VA through our novel e-ICU program and we’ve recently expanded by adding a new Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Clinic as well as a new state of the art Mental Health building.

In addition to our main facility in Spokane, we offer services in two community-based outpatient clinics. These clinics are located in —

Coeur d 'Alene, Idaho

Wenatchee, Washington

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service

Indoor or outdoor, any season, any time of the year—there’s always something to do in Spokane. Commune with nature by engaging in the many outdoor options or explore all of the entertainment designed to captivate and enthrall. Choose relaxing activities to find inner peace or keep your blood pumping every step of the way. Visit the city your way and you’ll find there’s a side of Spokane to accommodate you with plenty of things to do from check-in to check-out. 

Get Outdoors. The natural beauty of Spokane will be the first thing to greet you upon your arrival, so why not dive right in? Riverfront Park presents an accessible point to the breathtaking falls of the Spokane River, but this isn’t only the gateway to Spokane’s outdoor recreation. Make the most of the many waterways in the region by engaging in your pick of white water rafting, kayaking, fishing, or swimming. Leisurely stroll on paths and trails as a starting point to strike out on your own for a hike, rock climbing session, or cycling excursion. Come wintertime, you might choose to ski, snowboard, or explore the snowy wonderland on snowshoes.

Take In Culture. From first-class golf and college sports to hockey and professional race car driving, spectators will not be disappointed. Spectators of a different sort will delight in the city’s arts and culture presence. Theaters big and small present Broadway musicals and local productions. Galleries and museums showcase creations and artifacts from the region, nation, and all over the globe. Take in Spokane’s history at museums dedicated to preserving the past or take a self-guided tour of historic buildings serving as time capsule of yesteryear. Speaking of tours, you’ll find a different tour for nearly every interest. Book a zip-line tour through the forest, a helicopter tour for a bird’s eye view of the city, and of course, tours of wineries and breweries abound. Visit Spokane.

To fulfill President Lincoln's promise “To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan” by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s Veterans.

Core Values

VA’s five core values underscore the obligations inherent in VA’s mission: Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. The core values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans and eligible beneficiaries. Our values are more than just words – they affect outcomes in our daily interactions with Veterans and eligible beneficiaries and with each other. Taking the first letter of each word—Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, Excellence—creates a powerful acronym, “I CARE,” that reminds each VA employee of the importance of their role in this Department. These core values come together as five promises we make as individuals and as an organization to those we serve.

Integrity: Act with high moral principle. Adhere to the highest professional standards. Maintain the trust and confidence of all with whom I engage.

Commitment: Work diligently to serve Veterans and other beneficiaries. Be driven by an earnest belief in VA’s mission. Fulfill my individual responsibilities and organizational responsibilities.

Advocacy: Be truly Veteran-centric by identifying, fully considering, and appropriately advancing the interests of Veterans and other beneficiaries.

Respect: Treat all those I serve and with whom I work with dignity and respect. Show respect to earn it.

Excellence: Strive for the highest quality and continuous improvement. Be thoughtful and decisive in leadership, accountable for my actions, willing to admit mistakes, and rigorous in correcting them.